Bath mat



Feb. 22 1927.

A. A. BOSCHELLI BATH MAT Filed May 16. 1925 Patented Feb. 22', 1927.

ANGELO A. BOSCHELLL'OF onIcAeo', ILLINOIS.

BATH MAT.

Application filed May 16, 1925. Serial No. 30,645.

Thisinvention relates .to a mat designed primarily for use in a bathtub to prevent the occupant of the tub from slipping and falling.

Another object is to provide a mat of this character which can be used for scrubbing and massaging purposes. l

A still further object is to provide simple and efficient means forv attaching the mat fixedly to the surface ofthe tub so that the mat can not slip out of position.

A still further object is to provide attaching means removably' connected to the mat so that the mat can be readily discon- F nected from the attaching means before said attaching means are removed from engagement with the tub. Y

Another object is to provide attaching means which constitute portions of the-mas- With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds the invention resides in the-combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the j accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown. In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a bath tub, a mat such as constitutes the present invention' being a plied thereto, a portion of the mat being ind1cated by broken lines and part of the mat being inv section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through a portion of the mat and one of its attaching devices.

shown in Figure 3. v

Referring to' the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the body of the mat preferably formed .of rubber having a cersaging elements of the device.

Figure 4 is a planview of the structure the mat at points between the apertures are short studs or nipples 3 ofthe same material as-the balance of the mat, these projections all cooperating to provide a massaging or rubbing surface and also a surface which will preventa person from slipping on the rug.

Associated with 'the rug or mat are a number of attaching devices each of which includes a suction cup 4: having a central head 5 projecting therefrom. This head is substantially conical as shown with a re-.

duced portion or neck 6 between the head and the cup. The diameter of the neck is substantially equal to the diameter of any one of the openings 2 but the diameter of the head is ings. y

In using the mat the suction cups 4 are applied to the surface of tub T at any points desired. In Figures 1 and 2 some of the f cups have been shown placed upon the bottom of the tub and additional cups have been shown upon one end of the tub T.

The partial vacuums in the cups will cause .said cups to adhere tightly to the tub.

After the cups or attaching devices have been placed where desired the mat is placed in desired position and it will be found that certain of the holes 2 in the mat will be' aboi e or in close proximity to the various heads 5. The rug is then forced downward 1y relative to the cups so that the heads Will be pressed into and through those openings thereabove. This operation will'cause the walls of the respective openings to. stretch but after the heads have passed through them the walls will contract so as to grip the necks 6. Thus the rug will be held to the tub and as the heads 5 are of substantially the same length as'the nipples 3 they will cooperate with the nipples to prevent a person from slipping While standing on'the rug- 1 and also to form a part of a massaging or rubbing element. The heads 5 and nipples 3 are of course very soft so as not to afford discomfort to a person resting onthe mat and it will be obvious that by rubbing the body or any portion thereof over the mat a massaging action will be set up.

' After the mat has been used the same can be pulled off of the heads 5 without danger of tearing or otherwise injuring the mat; The, different cups 6 .can then be detached from the tub. It is important to provide attaching devices which are removable from greater than that of the open the mat not only because of theadvantages heretofore pointed out but because of the further fact that after these cups have been used in very hot water for several times they become softened and can not be used effectively as suction cups, It is therefore necessary to replace them with additional cups which can be procured at slight cost. Should the cups be made integral with the mat the discarding of the cups would necessitate discarding of mat.

In practice it has been found advantageous to provide each suction cup with an interior annular head 7 which increases the gripping action of the cup when collapsed upon a surface.

Although the mat ispreferably made of rubber it is to be understood that other materials may be used.

VVhatis claimed is: The combination with a flexible bath mat having a plurality of apertures therein, 'of

suction cups, a neck extending from each.

cup, a tapered head upon each of the necks, each head being adapted to snap into one of the apertures in the mat to couple the suction cup to the mat, and a plurality of nipples extending from and integral with the mat, the heads of the cups being extend- ANGELO A. BOSCHELLI. 

